Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-06-09

Nonsense" say, peevishly. ''Yor
are just determined not to like my
house. What color is yours?''
''Color?' says Jack, looking puz-
zled. "Well. really-oh, brown.
think; yes, brown, with red blinds. u
''Red blinds!" I cry, in horror.
'Oh, Jack! never could stand red
blinds-never in the world. They re
hot, and they're dreadful for the eyes,
and they're just horrid. How could
you pick out a house with red blinds.
unless it was just to spite me?"
"Well, WE'LL" said jack; "a pot of
paint would soon remedy that. Be-
sides, my blinds are not that sort OF
red you're thinking Of They're SO
dark that-maybe you would not call
them red, after all What color is
your house?"
"Gray," say-''a very dark gray.
with brown blinds just picked out with
red. Not enough to hurt, you know,
only just a line or two. And, oh,
Jack! the parlor is SO pleasant! 1t has
bay-window and two others, and 1 can
make it just lovely
'.My house has beautiful dining
room," says Jack-'large and light,
and looking to the south. A dining
room ought to be the most cheerful
room in the house."
'And where is the kitchen?' Task.
Jack looks blank. Really, I don't
know Down stairs, 1 think. But it
is a good kitchen. I asked particular.
ly."
els there dumb-w aiter?" / ask,
and again Jack looks puzzled.
81 don't know" he says, slowly.
':Do houses generally have dumb
walters in the country?''
"Jack!' I exclaimed, Indignantly.
'Of course they do, when there is a
downstairs kitchen. How could one
servant spend her time carrying the
meals up and down? Now my kitchen
is on the same floor with the dining
room, but separated from it by short
passage, so that the smell of cooking
can not reach it."
1.-The smell of cooking can't we'll
come into the dining-room from a
downstairs Kitchen" says Jack.
Eyes, it can" say; cup the dumb
waiter. 1t will always be just full of
il"
"But you don't know that there is a
says Jack, laughing.
''Then that's worse cry. '.But I
see just what it is. You've made up
your mind that we are to 60 and live
in your house, whether it suits or not,
and you don't care a bit that mine is
ever so much better in every way,
and
"Why. Ethel. Ethel, what ais you 9'
cries Jack, looking at me in simple
amazement. Il am quite sure I never
said anything of the kind. and never
saw You like this before"
TIL It is quite true, as I very we'll
know. l struggle for moment
against the conviction then a sudden
flood of remorse rushes over me.
can't well burst into tears in a hotel
and 1 fight valiantly
against the choky feeling in my throat,
and try to wink away the salt drops
that rise to my eyes.
Poor little woman!' says Jack,
seeing my efforts. You are just worn
out. Never mind, dear. l know what
it all means. You are tired and over
heated and nervous, and l ought not
to have let you do SO much. I have
no doubt at all that your house is bet
ter than mine. Women are always
better judges of such things than men:
The best thing we can. do is to go
to the agent and take your
house, and then go home quietly
But Jacks amiability is the finish
ing stroke.
"Oh, Jackr' I cry, am wretch.
I am thoroughly ashamed sof myself.
1 don't believe my house will do at all,
and know that yours is just what we
want. No. What we will do is to go
to your agent and take your
house. 1 know mine can't hold a
candle to it,
Jack laughs. 1--WE seem to have
changed sides rather suddenly" he
says, land not to be much nearer to a
settlement, I'll tell you what we will
do. We have nearly an hour yet be-
fore the next train goes. will tell
your hickman to drive us to your
house, and after we have seen that we
will go on to mine. Then we can
make up our minds, and write to the
agent of the one we decide upon.''
Il know it will be yours, I say;
but Jack shakes his head.
more likely yours" he says.
''Women always know more about
such things than men. At all events,
it Is we'll to have a choice"
The hackman takes us back by the
way which / travelled before. and
which l remember well. l am careful
to point out all its beauties to Jack
the heavy trees which nearly meet
overhead; the saucy little brook which
across the road under the
messy stone bridge; the pretty cot
tages standing each in its own space of
greenery on one side of the street; the
open fields on the other, which gives
the impression of air and space, for
which pine.
The house is reached at last, and
Jack looks up at it without word.
isn't it a pretty shade of gray,
Jack?" ask, wistfully. "And those
dark shutters, with their red markings,
made such a nice finish to it. But /
know yours is much prettier," add,
with a magnanimity of which the eff
.,,s T. e.